Outlook Anything short of defending its championship would be a stunning setback for Cox, which has the only two defending Eastern Region champs in Cody Stageberg (112 pounds) and Ross Burbank (285). The Falcons lead the way with 12 wrestlers in the field and have seven district champs, two more than Granby and Phoebus. The battle for second place should be more intriguing. Ocean Lakes was South Hampton Roads' second-best dual team , but Kempsville was the runner-up in the Beach District tournament . The Chiefs have two potential champions in Zac Isenhour and Bryce Barnes. Southeastern champ Grassfield has thrived in tournament settings and brings nine wrestlers.

Weight classes to watch Grassfield's freshman champion, Taylor Misuna, will try to run the gauntlet of Beach District wrestlers at 125 pounds. There are at least five excellent 140-pounders, and one will not be headed to the state tournament. The potential semifinal between Great Bridge's John McClanahan and Cox's C.J. Jablonski at 135 pounds would have made a great final. The most wide open divisions are 160 and 171 pounds. The absence of Kellam's Turner Bishop, the top-ranked 171-pounder in the state, left a vacuum at that weight. The Southeastern District's biggest champions – 215-pound Darren Hankins (Hickory) and 285-pound Dominique Hannibal (Deep Creek) – were its most dominant district performers and should have fun stacking up against the best of the Beach.

Tidewater Conference tournament

Tickets $5 adults, $3 students.

Where Norfolk Academy, 10 a.m. today

Outlook Cape Henry won the conference easily during the regular season and is a heavy favorite. Nationally-ranked Will Mason (112 pounds) leads the Dolphins' four defending TCIS champions. One marquee meeting pits 103-pounders Jackson Law (Cape Henry) and Dustin Runzo (Norfolk Academy), both from established bloodlines.

Outlook Maury is the defending champ but Norcom is the favorite. The nationally ranked Greyhounds lost once this this season when Booker T. Washington beat them in the Booker Dome. Norcom won the tournament title in 2007, '08 and '09. The Greyhounds and Bookers already clinched Eastern Region tournament berths . Look for Maury and Granby to join them.

Outlook Lake Taylor won its 14 league games by an average of 64.4 points en route to a third straight unbeaten district regular season. Three teams – Wilson, Booker T. Washington and Maury – ended up in a second-place tie. Wilson won the No. 2 seed and an automatic Eastern Region berth via coin flip. That leaves the Bookers and Commodores needing semifinal wins to get into region play. Maury boasts the district's leading scorer in Dashae Jones (19.8 ppg).

– Jami Frankenberry

Gymnastics

Eastern Region meet

Tickets $7 adults; $3 ages 6-11 .

Where Western Branch High

When 11 a.m. today

At stake Since the Eastern and Peninsula districts do not field gymnastics teams, the top three squads from the Southeastern (Great Bridge, Hickory and Western Branch) and Beach (Kellam, Cox and Salem) each will compete for two Group AAA state berths. The top four all-arounds and top eight gymnasts in each individual event advance. In addition to the medalists, gymnasts scoring at least 38.3 in all-around, 9.6 on balance beam and floor, and 9.7 on uneven bars and vault advance.

Outlook Defending state champion Kellam is a favorite to earn a trip to state. That leaves Cox, Great Bridge and Hickory to battle for the second ticket. Individually, Salem's Maebelle Pacheco and Tallwood's Sheriese Clark should compete for the all-around title. They are the only two in the field to have met the state qualifying score. The event has been dubbed a "Pink Meet" to raise breast cancer awareness.

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